Ita enim finitima sunt falsa veris ut in præcipitem locum non debeat se sapiens committere. So near is falsehood to truth that a wise man would do well not to trust himself on the narrow edge. CiceroAcademici. IV. 21.

The silent colossal National Lie that is the support and confederate of all the tyrannies and shams and inequalities and unfairnesses that afflict the peoplesthat is the one to throw bricks and sermons at. S. L. Clemens (Mark Twain)My First Lie.

Hercle audivi esse optimum mendacium.Quicquid dei dicunt, id rectum est dicere. By Hercules! I have often heard that your piping-hot lie is the best of lies: what the gods dictate, that is right. PlautusMostellaria. III. 1. 134.

Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying! I grant you I was down and out of breath; and so was he: but we rose both at an instant and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock.Henry IV. Pt. I. Act V. Sc. 4. L. 149.

That a lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies;That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outrightBut a lie which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight. TennysonThe Grandmother. St. 8.